Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to the United States next month for the United Nations General Assembly, the Indian Express reported Wednesday, citing government sources.
While Modi’s primary purpose will be to attend the UN meeting in New York, a key agenda item is likely to be direct talks with Trump aimed at resolving escalating trade and tariff disputes between the two countries, the newspaper said.
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly begins on September 9, with the high-level meeting of world leaders scheduled for September 23–29. Reuters noted it could not independently confirm the Indian Express report.
The potential face-to-face meeting comes amid rising trade frictions following Washington’s decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian exports as punishment for New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. The move brought the total levy on Indian goods to 50%, one of the highest tariff rates applied to any U.S. trading partner.
Bilateral trade negotiations between India and the United States have been stalled since talks collapsed after five rounds. Disagreements over opening India’s vast agricultural and dairy markets, as well as its refusal to halt Russian oil imports, have been major sticking points.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday acknowledged the lack of progress, saying New Delhi had been “a bit recalcitrant” in negotiations. Speaking on Fox Business Network’s Kudlow, Bessent said several major trade agreements, including those with Switzerland and India, remained unfinished.
He added that the Trump administration aimed to complete its trade negotiations by the end of October. “That’s aspirational, but I think we are in a good position,” Bessent said. “I think we will have agreed on substantial terms with all the substantial countries.”
For India, the stakes in the talks are high. The United States is its largest trading partner, with two-way goods and services trade exceeding $190 billion in 2024. The increased tariffs are expected to hit sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and steel particularly hard, adding urgency to efforts to ease tensions.
For Washington, securing a deal with New Delhi could strengthen economic ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific, while also addressing concerns over India’s energy relationship with Russia.
If confirmed, Modi’s meeting with Trump would mark a significant opportunity for both leaders to reset relations and potentially break the impasse before further economic measures take effect.
